Key Points

Royal Challengers Bangalore has broken their three-month silence following the tragic stampede that occurred during their IPL victory celebrations. The franchise shared an emotional message explaining their period of grief and reflection after the incident that claimed 11 lives. Meanwhile, the Central Administrative Tribunal has held RCB responsible for the massive gathering that occurred without proper permissions. The Karnataka government has since reinstated four suspended police officers while the stadium has been declared unsafe for large events.

Key Points: RCB Breaks Silence on Bengaluru Stampede Grief After IPL Win

  • RCB breaks 3-month silence after June 4 stampede that killed 11 fans
  • CAT holds RCB responsible for gathering 3-5 lakh people without permissions
  • Karnataka government reinstates four suspended police officers
  • M Chinnaswamy Stadium deemed unsafe for large events by commission
3 min read

Silence wasn't Absence, It was Grief: RCB speaks out after three months of Bengaluru stampede

RCB shares heartfelt message after 3 months of silence following tragic stampede that killed 11 fans during their maiden IPL trophy celebration in Bengaluru.

"The Silence wasn't Absence. It was Grief - Royal Challengers Bangalore"

Bengaluru, August 28

For the first time in three months after the Bengaluru stampede, Royal Challengers Bangalore, an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, shared a heartfelt message for their fans on Thursday, stating that "the Silence wasn't Absence. It was Grief".

On June 4, 11 people died and over 50 were injured in a stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy stadium as a massive crowd of nearly 3 lakh people had gathered to witness the victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, celebrating their maiden IPL trophy win.

Taking to X, RCB wrote on X, "The Silence wasn't Absence. It was Grief. This space was once filled with energy, memories and moments that you enjoyed the most.. But June 4th changed everything. That day broke our hearts, and the silence since then has been our way of holding space. In that silence, we've been grieving. Listening. Learning. And slowly, we've begun to build something more than just a response. Something we truly believe in. That's how RC came to life. It grew out of a need to honour, to heal, and to stand beside our fans. A platform for meaningful action shaped by our community & fans. We return to this space today, not with celebration but with care. To share. To stand with you. To walk forward, together. To continue being the pride of Karnataka.

https://x.com/RCBTweets/status/1960923232170819738

Earlier, a two-person bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) observed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to be "responsible" for the gathering of "about three to five lakhs people" outside their home venue of M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Last month, the CAT pulled up RCB for "unilaterally" putting up information on celebrations without "obtaining the permission" or without the "consent" of the police."The CAT order stated that neither the franchise nor its event management firm, S DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited, sought any permissions to conduct the title celebration parade at the stadium.

The order came out in defence of cops, saying that they are "human beings", "neither God (Bhagwan) nor Magician and did not have the magical powers like "Alladin ka Chirag" capable of fulfilling a wish only by rubbing a finger."

The Karnataka government revoked the suspension of four police officers who were suspended following the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede.

In an order dated July 28, the Karnataka government reinstated four top officers, including two IPS officers and two Karnataka State Police Service officers, to duty, pending disciplinary proceedings against all four.

The state government revoked the suspension of Additional Director General of Police B Dayananda, IPS Shekar H Tekkannavar, Deputy Superintendent of Police C Balakrishna, and Police Inspector AK Girish.

Additionally, the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru has been deemed "unsuitable and unsafe" for large-scale events, according to the findings of Justice John Michael Cunha Commission that was appointed by the Karnataka government to investigate the stampede.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
As a Bengaluru resident, I appreciate the honesty in their message. The tragedy was heartbreaking for our city. Hope they learn from this and ensure better crowd management in future. #SafetyFirst
R
Rohit P
Why were police officers suspended when RCB didn't even take permissions? The franchise should bear the responsibility, not the police who were trying to manage an impossible situation. Justice for our police force!
S
Sarah B
The "RC" platform initiative sounds promising if implemented properly. Hope it brings real change and support to affected families rather than just being a PR exercise. Actions speak louder than words.
K
Karthik V
Chinnaswamy being declared unsafe is a wake-up call for all stadiums in India. We need better infrastructure and crowd management systems. This tragedy should not be repeated anywhere. 🙏
M
Meera T
My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones. No trophy is worth human lives. While I'm an RCB fan, I hope the franchise learns serious lessons about responsibility and safety protocols.

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